Back-scratcher.



No. 869,250 PATENTED OCT. 29, 1907.

- F. J. MARTIN.

BACK SGRATGHER. APPLIoATIoN FILED JULY a, 1906.

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FLORIAN J. MARTIN, OF

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

BACK-SCRATCHER.

No. 869,250. y Application filed July 6,

To allwhom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FLORIAN J. MARTIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwankeefand State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Back-Scratcher, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a back-scratcheip ,The object of the present invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and efficient device, designed for scratching the back, and adapted to readily find its way down the spine of a person without dilliculty, even when the clothing and collar are comparatively tight, and capable of enabling the back to be thoroughly scratched in a cleanly and healthful manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide a back scratcher of this character, adapted topermit the flesh engaging means to be readily changed, when desired, to render the device vperfectly sanitary, and capable also of enabling the said flesh engaging means to be arranged to render the device more effective.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the `accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may b resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawingz-Figure l is a perspective v iew of a back scratcher, constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same. Figi 3 is an enlarged sectional view, illustrating the manner of pivotally mounting the holder. Fig. 4 is a detail View of the holder. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective viewiof the friction disk.

Like numerals Iof reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing.

1` designates a pivotedholder of substantially oblong shape,` constructed of spring sheet metal, or other suitable material, and consisting of aback 2 and converging `substantially segmental sides 3, which are adapted to clamp the 'flesh-engaging material 4, whereby the latter'is securely held in the holder. The endedges of the back of the holder are convexly curved, as shown, to prevent the holder from accidentally injuring the back.

The esh-engaging material preferably consists of a slice or slab of corn cob, which will be found .most ef- Speeication of Letters Patent.

1906, Serial No. 324.976.

Patented. oct. 29, 1907.

l fective as a back scratcher, and which is cheap and. easily obtained, so that the material, after use, may be renewed at a small costi." The corn cob slab or slice is especially advantageous as it presents a rounded outer y face for engaging the flesh and has a flat inner side or face to fit the back of the holder. The rounded outer face of the corn cob slab or slice projects beyond the segmental sides, which are partially embedded in the corn cob, so that the edges of the sides do not come in Contact with the flesh, when the device is in use. Any other suitable material, however, may be substituted for the corn cob slab or piece 4.

lhe holder is secured by a pivot 5 to a resilient handle 6, which is bowed longitudinally, and which is provided with an end loop or grip 7. The handle, which is flexible, may be constructed of spring wire, or any other suitable material, and the end 8, which is connected to the holder, is enlarged by coiling` or bending the material on itself to form an eye for the reception of the pivot 5. The enlarged end 8 of the handle is preferably flattened, and a friction disk 9 is interposed between the holder and the handle for frictionally engaging the parts to prevent the holder from accidentally rotating on the pivot, when the device is in use. The frictionv disk, which is concave-convex before the parts are assembled, is radially split or cut at 10, as clearly shown.

The pivot, which'is in the form of a screw, has its head countersnnk in the back piece of the holder, and it is adapted to be tightened to flatten the friction disk to increase the friction, and thereby tighten the pivoted holder.

The pivoted holder'v is adapted to be arranged eithel longitudinally or transversely of the handle, or any other position, and when arranged longitudinally of the handle, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawing, it may be easily introduced under the collar, or other tight clothing.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

a detachable esh-engguizpiece clamped in the holder by the handle, `and :1 resilient compressible friction disk interthe sides thereof. posed between the holder and the handle and adapted to 3. A back scratcher comprising a handle, a esh-e'ngagbe adjusted by the screw. ing device pivotally mounted on the halndle and cpnble of In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I 5 rotary adjustment, land yieldable means interposed be` have hereto axed lmy signature in the presence of two 15 tween the flesh-engaging device and the handle and fricwitnesses.

tionally engaging the former for securing the same in lts ',FLORIAN J. MARTIN. adjustment. Witnesses':y

. 4. A back scratcher comprising a handle, arholder hat# CHAS. SCHERER,

0 ing a xiesh-engaging de'vice,^a screw pivoting the holder to yTHosV. DALLY. 

